KUALA LUMPUR, May 22 — Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has underscored the importance of upholding and advancing the national language as a fundamental pillar of Malaysia’s national development agenda.
Speaking at the launch of the Public Bank-Dewan Bahasa dan Pustaka (DBP) Language Prize today, Anwar cited global examples to stress that economic, technological and digital progress need not come at the expense of cultural and linguistic identity, but instead can coexist with strong cultural and linguistic roots.
“Take China, for example. Despite its technological and economic prowess, it continues to emphasise classical education in Chinese literature, such as the works of Mengzi, in schools. They want their children to maintain their cultural identity and not be swayed or mesmerised by foreign works that influence young minds and character.
“In Russia, despite its military and economic strength and a rapidly advancing education system, almost everyone I met there seemed familiar with the richness of Russian literature, such as the great works of Anna Akhmatova,” he said.
Also present at the launch were Deputy Education Minister Wong Kah Woh, DBP board of governors chairman Datuk Anwar Ridhwan, and Public Bank Bhd deputy chief executive officer Datuk Sulaiman Abdul Manap.
Anwar said Malaysia must emulate nations such as China and Russia by making the national language a living part of its progress; not a rhetorical slogan, but a practical commitment backed by unified action across all sectors, including finance and private enterprise.
“In our pursuit of a Madani nation, one that is progressive and globally competitive, we must ensure our financial institutions are strong and outward-looking. But in doing so, we must never lose sight of a vital component of nation-building, which is linguistic excellence and reverence for our literary heritage.
“It would be a grave mistake to assume that language and culture can be sidelined in the name of reform and progress. No great nation has ever abandoned these foundations,” Anwar asserted.
He also hailed the revival of the Language Prize, which was introduced in 1984 but discontinued in 1998, as a timely move to reaffirm national values.
Meanwhile, Anwar commended Public Bank’s support for the initiative, as a model for how the private sector can play a meaningful role in preserving and promoting national language, literature, and culture.
The Public Bank-DBP Language Prize spans five categories and celebrates quality works in Bahasa Malaysia, produced by students from the primary to tertiary levels.
— Bernama
